{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/16.1-309.11.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/16.1-309.11.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/16.1-309.11.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/16.1-309.11.html"}],"law_id":81114,"edition_id":1,"section_id":81114,"structure_id":15139,"section_number":"16.1-309.11","catch_line":"Youth justice diversion program","history":"2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 457.","full_text":"A\n\nFor the purposes of this section, &#8220;youth justice diversion program&#8221; means a diversionary program that (i) is monitored by a local youth justice diversion program advisory committee; (ii) uses juvenile volunteers as lawyers, jurors, and other court personnel; (iii) uses volunteer attorneys as judges; (iv) conducts peer trials of juveniles who are referred to the program by the intake officer; and (v) imposes various sentences emphasizing restitution, rehabilitation, accountability, competency building, and education, but not incarceration.B\n\nAny jurisdiction may establish a youth justice diversion program upon establishment of a local youth justice diversion program advisory committee and approval of the youth justice diversion program by the chief judge of the juvenile and domestic relations district court that serves such jurisdiction. Each local youth justice diversion program advisory committee shall ensure quality, efficiency, and fairness in the planning, implementation, and operation of the youth justice diversion program that serves the jurisdiction. Advisory committee membership may include, but shall not be limited to, the following persons or their designees: (i) a judge from the juvenile and domestic relations district court that serves such jurisdiction; (ii) the attorney for the Commonwealth; (iii) the public defender or a member of the local criminal defense bar in jurisdictions in which there is no public defender; (iv) the clerk of the court in which the youth justice diversion program is located; (v) a representative of the Department of Juvenile Justice from the local office that serves the jurisdiction; (vi) a local law-enforcement officer; (vii) a representative of a local school in such jurisdiction; (viii) a representative of juvenile court services; (ix) a representative of a juvenile detention center or group home; (x) a representative of a local children and family services agency; and (xi) any other persons selected by the local youth justice diversion program advisory committee.C\n\nEach local youth justice diversion program advisory committee shall establish criteria for the eligibility and participation of juveniles alleged to have committed a delinquent act other than an act that would be a felony or a Class 1 misdemeanor if committed by an adult in the youth justice diversion program, with the consent of the juvenile&#8217;s parent or legal guardian.D\n\nEach local youth justice diversion program advisory committee shall establish policies and procedures for the operation of the youth justice diversion program to attain the following goals: (i) early intervention in and prevention of delinquent behavior; (ii) providing positive alternative sanctions for offenders by providing a peer-driven sentencing mechanism that allows young people to take responsibility, to be held accountable, and to make restitution; (iii) advocating for fair, constructive, and restorative sentences predicated on sensitivity to the unique needs and the diversity of the participating juveniles; and (iv) developing positive citizenship attitudes, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting educational success through a diversity of service learning opportunities, strategies, and activities.E\n\nAll records and reports concerning juvenile participants in a local youth justice diversion program made available to members of a local youth justice diversion program advisory committee and volunteers of a local youth justice diversion program and all records and reports identifying a juvenile participant that are generated by the committee or program from such reports shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except as authorized by other applicable law.F\n\nA juvenile referred to a youth justice diversion program may be required to contribute to the cost of the program pursuant to guidelines developed by the local youth justice diversion program advisory committee.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":290744,"text":"For the purposes of this section, &#8220;youth justice diversion program&#8221; means a diversionary program that (i) is monitored by a local youth justice diversion program advisory committee; (ii) uses juvenile volunteers as lawyers, jurors, and other court personnel; (iii) uses volunteer attorneys as judges; (iv) conducts peer trials of juveniles who are referred to the program by the intake officer; and (v) imposes various sentences emphasizing restitution, rehabilitation, accountability, competency building, and education, but not incarceration.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":290745,"text":"Any jurisdiction may establish a youth justice diversion program upon establishment of a local youth justice diversion program advisory committee and approval of the youth justice diversion program by the chief judge of the juvenile and domestic relations district court that serves such jurisdiction. Each local youth justice diversion program advisory committee shall ensure quality, efficiency, and fairness in the planning, implementation, and operation of the youth justice diversion program that serves the jurisdiction. Advisory committee membership may include, but shall not be limited to, the following persons or their designees: (i) a judge from the juvenile and domestic relations district court that serves such jurisdiction; (ii) the attorney for the Commonwealth; (iii) the public defender or a member of the local criminal defense bar in jurisdictions in which there is no public defender; (iv) the clerk of the court in which the youth justice diversion program is located; (v) a representative of the Department of Juvenile Justice from the local office that serves the jurisdiction; (vi) a local law-enforcement officer; (vii) a representative of a local school in such jurisdiction; (viii) a representative of juvenile court services; (ix) a representative of a juvenile detention center or group home; (x) a representative of a local children and family services agency; and (xi) any other persons selected by the local youth justice diversion program advisory committee.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":290746,"text":"Each local youth justice diversion program advisory committee shall establish criteria for the eligibility and participation of juveniles alleged to have committed a delinquent act other than an act that would be a felony or a Class 1 misdemeanor if committed by an adult in the youth justice diversion program, with the consent of the juvenile&#8217;s parent or legal guardian.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":290747,"text":"Each local youth justice diversion program advisory committee shall establish policies and procedures for the operation of the youth justice diversion program to attain the following goals: (i) early intervention in and prevention of delinquent behavior; (ii) providing positive alternative sanctions for offenders by providing a peer-driven sentencing mechanism that allows young people to take responsibility, to be held accountable, and to make restitution; (iii) advocating for fair, constructive, and restorative sentences predicated on sensitivity to the unique needs and the diversity of the participating juveniles; and (iv) developing positive citizenship attitudes, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting educational success through a diversity of service learning opportunities, strategies, and activities.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":290748,"text":"All records and reports concerning juvenile participants in a local youth justice diversion program made available to members of a local youth justice diversion program advisory committee and volunteers of a local youth justice diversion program and all records and reports identifying a juvenile participant that are generated by the committee or program from such reports shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except as authorized by other applicable law.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":290749,"text":"A juvenile referred to a youth justice diversion program may be required to contribute to the cost of the program pursuant to guidelines developed by the local youth justice diversion program advisory committee.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15139,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Juvenile Community Crime Control Act","identifier":"12.1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12701,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:28","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:28","permalink":{"id":161091,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15139,"identifier":"12.1","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1","url":"\/16.1\/11\/12.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12701,"edition_id":1,"name":"Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts","identifier":"11","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12700,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":160945,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12701,"identifier":"11","token":"16.1\/11","url":"\/16.1\/11\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12700,"edition_id":1,"name":"Courts Not of Record","identifier":"16.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":160919,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12700,"identifier":"16.1","token":"16.1","url":"\/16.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":57679,"structure_id":15139,"section_number":"16.1-309.10","catch_line":"Visitation and management of detention homes; other facilities; reports of superintendent","url":"\/16.1-309.10\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1\/16.1-309.10","metadata":false},{"id":81114,"structure_id":15139,"section_number":"16.1-309.11","catch_line":"Youth justice diversion program","url":"\/16.1-309.11\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1\/16.1-309.11","metadata":false},{"id":74791,"structure_id":15139,"section_number":"16.1-309.2","catch_line":"Purpose and intent","url":"\/16.1-309.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1\/16.1-309.2","metadata":false},{"id":66406,"structure_id":15139,"section_number":"16.1-309.3","catch_line":"Establishment of a community-based system of services; biennial local plan; quarterly report","url":"\/16.1-309.3\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1\/16.1-309.3","metadata":false},{"id":72236,"structure_id":15139,"section_number":"16.1-309.4","catch_line":"Statewide plan for juvenile services","url":"\/16.1-309.4\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1\/16.1-309.4","metadata":false},{"id":60781,"structure_id":15139,"section_number":"16.1-309.5","catch_line":"Construction, etc., of detention homes and other facilities; reimbursement in part by Commonwealth","url":"\/16.1-309.5\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1\/16.1-309.5","metadata":false},{"id":59126,"structure_id":15139,"section_number":"16.1-309.6","catch_line":"How state appropriations for operating costs of Juvenile Community Crime Control Act programs determined; notice of financial aid","url":"\/16.1-309.6\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1\/16.1-309.6","metadata":false},{"id":66785,"structure_id":15139,"section_number":"16.1-309.7","catch_line":"Determination of payment","url":"\/16.1-309.7\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1\/16.1-309.7","metadata":false},{"id":75554,"structure_id":15139,"section_number":"16.1-309.8","catch_line":"Costs of maintenance of juveniles in Community Crime Control Act programs","url":"\/16.1-309.8\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1\/16.1-309.8","metadata":false},{"id":71211,"structure_id":15139,"section_number":"16.1-309.9","catch_line":"Establishment of standards; determination of compliance","url":"\/16.1-309.9\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1\/16.1-309.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":57679,"structure_id":15139,"section_number":"16.1-309.10","catch_line":"Visitation and management of detention homes; other facilities; reports of superintendent","url":"\/16.1-309.10\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1\/16.1-309.10","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74791,"structure_id":15139,"section_number":"16.1-309.2","catch_line":"Purpose and intent","url":"\/16.1-309.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1\/16.1-309.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/16.1-309.11\/","history_text":false,"references":[{"id":57160,"section_number":"16.1-260","catch_line":"Intake; petition; investigation","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-260\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":161097,"object_type":"law","relational_id":81114,"identifier":"16.1-309.11","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1\/16.1-309.11","url":"\/16.1-309.11\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/16.1-309.11\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12.1\/16.1-309.11","dublin_core":{"Title":"Youth justice diversion program","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 16.1-309.11","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> For the purposes of this section, &#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span>&#8221; means a diversionary program that (i) is monitored by a local <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> advisory committee; (ii) uses juvenile volunteers as lawyers, jurors, and other <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> personnel; (iii) uses volunteer attorneys as <span class=\"dictionary\">judges<\/span>; (iv) conducts peer <span class=\"dictionary\">trials<\/span> of juveniles who are referred to the program by the <span class=\"dictionary\">intake officer<\/span>; and (v) imposes various sentences emphasizing <span class=\"dictionary\">restitution<\/span>, rehabilitation, accountability, competency building, and education, but not incarceration. <a id=\"paragraph-290744\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/16.1-309.11\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> Any <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> may establish a <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> upon establishment of a local <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> advisory committee and approval of the <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> by the <span class=\"dictionary\">chief judge<\/span> of the juvenile and domestic relations district court that serves such <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span>. Each local <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> advisory committee shall ensure quality, efficiency, and fairness in the planning, implementation, and operation of the <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> that serves the <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span>. Advisory committee membership may include, but shall not be limited to, the following persons or their designees: (i) a judge from the juvenile and domestic relations district court that serves such <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span>; (ii) the attorney for the Commonwealth; (iii) the <span class=\"dictionary\">public defender<\/span> or a member of the local criminal defense bar in <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdictions<\/span> in which there is no <span class=\"dictionary\">public defender<\/span>; (iv) the clerk of <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span> in which the <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> is located; (v) a representative of the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Juvenile Justice from the local office that serves the <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span>; (vi) a local <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>-enforcement officer; (vii) a representative of a local school in such <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span>; (viii) a representative of <span class=\"dictionary\">juvenile court<\/span> services; (ix) a representative of a juvenile detention center or group home; (x) a representative of a local children and family services agency; and (xi) any other persons selected by the local <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> advisory committee. <a id=\"paragraph-290745\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/16.1-309.11\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> Each local <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> advisory committee shall establish criteria for the eligibility and participation of juveniles alleged to have committed a <span class=\"dictionary\">delinquent act<\/span> other than an act that would be a <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span> or a Class 1 <span class=\"dictionary\">misdemeanor<\/span> if committed by an <span class=\"dictionary\">adult<\/span> in the <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span>, with the consent of the juvenile&#8217;s parent or legal guardian. <a id=\"paragraph-290746\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/16.1-309.11\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"D\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">D.<\/span> Each local <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> advisory committee shall establish policies and procedures for the operation of the <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> to attain the following goals: (i) early intervention in and prevention of delinquent behavior; (ii) providing positive alternative <span class=\"dictionary\">sanctions<\/span> for offenders by providing a peer-driven sentencing mechanism that allows young people to take responsibility, to be held accountable, and to make <span class=\"dictionary\">restitution<\/span>; (iii) advocating for fair, constructive, and restorative sentences predicated on sensitivity to the unique needs and the diversity of the participating juveniles; and (iv) developing positive citizenship attitudes, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting educational success through a diversity of service learning opportunities, strategies, and activities. <a id=\"paragraph-290747\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/16.1-309.11\/#D\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"E\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">E.<\/span> All records and reports concerning juvenile participants in a local <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> made available to members of a local <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> advisory committee and volunteers of a local <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> and all records and reports identifying a juvenile participant that are generated by the committee or program from such reports shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, except as authorized by other applicable <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-290748\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/16.1-309.11\/#E\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"F\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">F.<\/span> A juvenile referred to a <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> may be required to contribute to the cost of the program pursuant to guidelines developed by the local <span class=\"dictionary\">youth justice diversion program<\/span> advisory committee. <a id=\"paragraph-290749\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/16.1-309.11\/#F\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nYOUTH JUSTICE DIVERSION PROGRAM (\u00a7 16.1-309.11)\n\nA. For the purposes of this section, &#8220;youth justice diversion\nprogram&#8221; means a diversionary program that (i) is monitored by a local\nyouth justice diversion program advisory committee; (ii) uses juvenile\nvolunteers as lawyers, jurors, and other court personnel; (iii) uses volunteer\nattorneys as judges; (iv) conducts peer trials of juveniles who are referred to\nthe program by the intake officer; and (v) imposes various sentences emphasizing\nrestitution, rehabilitation, accountability, competency building, and education,\nbut not incarceration.\n\nB. Any jurisdiction may establish a youth justice diversion program upon\nestablishment of a local youth justice diversion program advisory committee and\napproval of the youth justice diversion program by the chief judge of the\njuvenile and domestic relations district court that serves such jurisdiction.\nEach local youth justice diversion program advisory committee shall ensure\nquality, efficiency, and fairness in the planning, implementation, and operation\nof the youth justice diversion program that serves the jurisdiction. Advisory\ncommittee membership may include, but shall not be limited to, the following\npersons or their designees: (i) a judge from the juvenile and domestic relations\ndistrict court that serves such jurisdiction; (ii) the attorney for the\nCommonwealth; (iii) the public defender or a member of the local criminal\ndefense bar in jurisdictions in which there is no public defender; (iv) the\nclerk of the court in which the youth justice diversion program is located; (v)\na representative of the Department of Juvenile Justice from the local office\nthat serves the jurisdiction; (vi) a local law-enforcement officer; (vii) a\nrepresentative of a local school in such jurisdiction; (viii) a representative\nof juvenile court services; (ix) a representative of a juvenile detention center\nor group home; (x) a representative of a local children and family services\nagency; and (xi) any other persons selected by the local youth justice diversion\nprogram advisory committee.\n\nC. Each local youth justice diversion program advisory committee shall establish\ncriteria for the eligibility and participation of juveniles alleged to have\ncommitted a delinquent act other than an act that would be a felony or a Class 1\nmisdemeanor if committed by an adult in the youth justice diversion program,\nwith the consent of the juvenile&#8217;s parent or legal guardian.\n\nD. Each local youth justice diversion program advisory committee shall establish\npolicies and procedures for the operation of the youth justice diversion program\nto attain the following goals: (i) early intervention in and prevention of\ndelinquent behavior; (ii) providing positive alternative sanctions for offenders\nby providing a peer-driven sentencing mechanism that allows young people to take\nresponsibility, to be held accountable, and to make restitution; (iii)\nadvocating for fair, constructive, and restorative sentences predicated on\nsensitivity to the unique needs and the diversity of the participating\njuveniles; and (iv) developing positive citizenship attitudes, encouraging civic\nengagement, and promoting educational success through a diversity of service\nlearning opportunities, strategies, and activities.\n\nE. All records and reports concerning juvenile participants in a local youth\njustice diversion program made available to members of a local youth justice\ndiversion program advisory committee and volunteers of a local youth justice\ndiversion program and all records and reports identifying a juvenile participant\nthat are generated by the committee or program from such reports shall be\nconfidential and shall not be disclosed, except as authorized by other\napplicable law.\n\nF. A juvenile referred to a youth justice diversion program may be required to\ncontribute to the cost of the program pursuant to guidelines developed by the\nlocal youth justice diversion program advisory committee.\n\nHISTORY: 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 457.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}